Arkansas’s Carnegie Libraries2015 ALPS Conference

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Travis Ratermann and Ralph WilcoxArkansas Historic Preservation Program

Washington, DC

Fresno, California

Anniston, Alabama

Ritzville, Washington

Xenia, Ohio

Seattle, Washington

Yonkers, New York

Franklin, Texas

Union, South Carolina

Springville, Utah

St. Petersburg, Florida

Herne Hill, England

Darwen, England

Stouffville, Ontario

Victoria, British Columbia

Hokitika, New Zealand

Muizenberg, South Africa

Dominica, Lesser Antilles

Suva City, Fiji

Libraries in Arkansas

• Small Private groups• 1st Library law passed by the state• Women’s organizations take the reins.• Small public institutions• Large public institutions

Contact with Carnegie Officials

Receipts From Taxes_______ Other income_______ Total_______________

ExpendituresRent_______Other costs_______

Free Public Library 1. Name of Town___________________________________2. Population______________________________________3. Has it a Library at present?__________________________4. Number of books (excluding government reports)?________5. Circulation for the last year?_________________________6. How is Library housed?____________________________7. Number of rooms, their measurements and uses?_________8. Finances according to the last annual report:

9. a) Rate at which municipality will pledge annual support (with a tax levy) if building is obtained___________________b) What is the highest rate of tax levy allowed by law?_________________________c) How much income would this rate have yielded for the last five years?_________________________ 10. Is the requisite site available?_______________ 11. Amount, if any, already collected toward building______________

"To facilitate Mr. Carnegie’s consideration of your appeal, will you oblige by filling in the above, and return with a statement of any particulars likely to assist in making decision? It is necessary to give explicit answers to each question, as in the absence of such, there is no basis for action, and the matter will be delayed pending further communication."

Pledge to Maintain A Resolution to Accept the Donation of Andrew Carnegie•Whereas, Andrew Carnegie has agreed to furnish_______________ Dollars to the _______________ (name of community) to erect a Free Public Library Building, on condition that the said community shall pledge itself by a Resolution of Council, to support a Free Public Library, at a cost of not less than _______________ Dollars a year, and provide a suitable site for the said building.•Now therefore be it resolved by Council of _________ (name of community) that said community accept said donation, and it does hereby pledge itself to the requirements of Andrew Carnegie. Resolved that it will furnish a suitable site for said building when erected, at a cost of not less than ____________ Dollars. Resolved that an annual levy shall hereafter be made upon the taxable property of said community sufficient in amount to comply with the above requirements.

Conditions on Grants1.Municipalities had to own the site on which the library would be built, which often meant spending taxpayer money. 

2.The property also had to be large enough that the library could be expanded if demand rose.

3. Agree to pay each year an amount equal to 10 percent of his gift to maintain the building.

4.Show need for Library.

Design

Grants for Arkansas’s 4 Libraries

• March 24, 1906– Fort Smith– Little Rock

• April 23, 1906– Eureka Springs

• Sept. 20, 1915– Morrilton

Arkansas’s First Public Library

Fort Smith- 318 N. 13th St.

• Various period of History on the Site. – Original Site of the Judge Parker’s last home.

• Hanging Judge

– Carnegie Library • Arkansas’s First Public Library• Leading Sponsor was the Ladies of the Fortnightly

Library Association

Fortnightly Association

• The library grew from one of the oldest literary clubs in Arkansas, the Fortnightly Study Club of Fort Smith, originating in 1888 with Mrs. Isaac C. Parker as the first president.

• Fortnightly Club already was hosting a Free reading room.

Change is it Good.1908 1950

1950

FORT SMITH MUSEUM OF HISTORY

Ground Breaking

1970 Library

Currently

Little Rock, AR

Little Rock- Horse Before the Cart.

• Ask for the grant then make plans• Nov. 19, 1908 seek to get the city on board

– Business men and community to raise $40,000• 8,000 a year for 5 years to start the fund.

– City to buy the property and pay 10,000 annually for Maintenance.

• Design of the building was done by New York Architect Edward Tilton.

• Tilton wanted a local architect on site so he hired famed local architect Charles Thompson to design the building.

Site map

Cont.• After years of planning, drawing, drawing,

and redrawing work was underway and nearly finished by 1910.

• With all of the waiting for this wonderful building, it was met with no fanfare.

Little Rock, AR

All good things come to an End

• By 1960 the City of Little Rock was planning for the demolition of the Carnegie Library.

• Architect William Allen, of Swaim and Allen, was hired for the new Building.

DEMO

Eureka Springs

Eureka Springs Library

• Grant Awarded in April 23, 1906• Bids were not taken until 1908 • Work not started until 1909.• Location – Spring Reservation• Architect – Mr. George Hellmuth, St. Louis,

MO

Morrilton

Library in Morrilton

• Granted late in the Carnegie Library process.

• Quickest to completion• It was not Morrilton’s 1st Library

– Old School Presbyterian Church– Founded by the Pathfinder Club of Morrilton– Still membership only.

W.S. Cazort

• - Purchased 1,800 rare books

• Gave books to Pathfinder Club

• Still only had one Librarian – $25 a month

Carnegie Library Thoughts…

• Russellville- 1916

• Fayetteville

• Thoughts, – Questions,

• Comments, –Concerns.

–Thanks